''Forced Vengeance'' is a 1982 American

action film The action film is a film genre that predominantly features chase sequences, fights, shootouts, explosions, and stunt work. The specifics of what constitutes an action film has been in scholarly debate since the 1980s. While some scholars such as D ...

, starring

Chuck Norris Carlos Ray "Chuck" Norris (born March 10, 1940) is an American martial artist and actor. Born in Oklahoma, Norris first gained fame when he won the amateur Middleweight Karate champion title in 1968, which he held for six consecutive years. H ...

Mary Louise Weller Mary Louise Weller, born September 1, 1946, is an American actress. She is perhaps best known for her role as Mandy Pepperidge in the popular 1978 film ''Animal House''. She has guest-starred in television series such as ''Starsky & Hutch'', ''Fa ...

and Camila Griggs. The film was directed by

James Fargo James Fargo (born August 14, 1938) is an American film director. He directed numerous films from 1976 to 1998. After serving as assistant director to Steven Spielberg on ''Duel'' and on many films starring Clint Eastwood, he was then given the c ...

, written by Franklin Thompson and

and filmed in the Crown Colony of Hong Kong and

Portuguese Macau Macau was under Portuguese Empire, Portuguese rule from the establishment of the first official Portuguese settlement in 1557 until its Handover of Macau, handover to China in 1999. It comprised the Municipality of Macau and the Municipality of ...

Plot

When the owner and proprietor of the Lucky Dragon casino in Hong Kong refuses to let mobsters take over his business he and his family are hit. Dragon's chief of security, Josh Randall, goes looking for the head of the syndicate to exact revenge for the murder of his employer, friend, and mentor.

Cast

Production

The film was originally known as ''The Jade Jungle''. It had Norris' biggest budget yet, costing $5 million, and was from a major studio, MGM. The title was changed during production to ''Forced Vengeance''.

Reception

Critical response

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

'' wrote, "In the unlikely event that a film historian stumbles across 'Forced Vengeance' 20 years from now, he would probably guess that it was made somewhere around 1974—75. In setting, plotting, themes and action motifs, latest Chuck Norris pic is incredibly reminiscent of those unlamented Yank-vs.-Hong Kong syndicate martial arties of that era. For Norris, who has given signs of trying to graduate from the genre, this is a step backwards, or at least is treading water." Kevin Thomas of the ''

Los Angeles Times The ''Los Angeles Times'' is an American Newspaper#Daily, daily newspaper that began publishing in Los Angeles, California, in 1881. Based in the Greater Los Angeles city of El Segundo, California, El Segundo since 2018, it is the List of new ...

'' wrote that by the middle of the film, "bone-crunching, flesh-ripping violence so dominates the screen that the film simply starts drowning in a sea of blood. By the end, it's hard to care, let alone differentiate, between the good guys and the bad. Such wretched excess is especially lamentable because ''Forced Vengeance'' starts off with a lot going for it: a serviceable, if familiar story (by Franklin Thompson), some likable people to root for, unfailingly photogenic and atmospheric Hong Kong locales (well photographed by Rexford Metz) and crisp direction by James Fargo, a Clint Eastwood alumnus." Richard Harrington of ''

The Washington Post ''The Washington Post'', locally known as ''The'' ''Post'' and, informally, ''WaPo'' or ''WP'', is an American daily newspaper published in Washington, D.C., the national capital. It is the most widely circulated newspaper in the Washington m ...

'' called the film "one of Norris' less sterling efforts, a scratchy mono to the stereo of such earlier efforts as '' Return of the Dragon'' and '' Force of One''. Part of the problem is a script that seems better suited to '60s television ... Another part of the problem is Norris' monotonous acting." Jimmy Summers of ''

BoxOffice ''Boxoffice Pro'' is a film industry magazine dedicated to the movie theatre business published by BoxOffice Media LP. History It started in 1920 as ''The Reel Journal'', taking the name ''Boxoffice'' in 1931 and still publishes today, with a ...

'' wrote, "Maybe pairing Chuck Norris with MGM was just more than the karate star could handle. Instead of being one of his classiest movies, ''Forced Vengeance'' is one of his worst ... The presence of MGM veterans

Tom and Jerry ''Tom and Jerry'' is an American Animated cartoon, animated media franchise and series of comedy short films created in 1940 by William Hanna and Joseph Barbera. Best known for its 161 theatrical short films by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, the series ...

is the sole indication that this is an MGM movie. Otherwise it has the out-of-focused, grainy look of a chop-socky epic from China."

Gene Siskel Eugene Kal Siskel (January 26, 1946 – February 20, 1999) was an American film critic and journalist for the ''Chicago Tribune'' who co-hosted a movie review television series alongside colleague Roger Ebert. Siskel started writing for the '' ...

of the ''

Chicago Tribune The ''Chicago Tribune'' is an American daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1847, it was formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper", a slogan from which its once integrated WGN (AM), WGN radio and ...

'' wrote, "The Orient is merely a canvas for what is little more than an American hoodlum story.""Gene Siskel didn't like 'Forced Vengeance' very much"
/ref>

References

External links

* * {{James Fargo 1982 films 1982 action films American action films American films about revenge American martial arts films Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films 1982 martial arts films Films directed by James Fargo Films set in Hong Kong Films shot in Hong Kong Films shot in Macau 1980s American films